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Xing X, Rodeo SA. Emerging roles of non-coding RNAs in fibroblast to myofibroblast transition and fibrotic diseases. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1423045. [PMID: 39114349 PMCID: PMC11303237 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1423045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The transition of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts (FMT) represents a pivotal process in wound healing, tissue repair, and fibrotic diseases. This intricate transformation involves dynamic changes in cellular morphology, gene expression, and extracellular matrix remodeling. While extensively studied at the molecular level, recent research has illuminated the regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in orchestrating FMT. This review explores the emerging roles of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in regulating this intricate process. NcRNAs interface with key signaling pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic mechanisms to fine-tune gene expression during FMT. Their functions are critical in maintaining tissue homeostasis, and disruptions in these regulatory networks have been linked to pathological fibrosis across various tissues. Understanding the dynamic roles of ncRNAs in FMT bears therapeutic promise. Targeting specific ncRNAs holds potential to mitigate exaggerated myofibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis. However, challenges in delivery and specificity of ncRNA-based therapies remain. In summary, ncRNAs emerge as integral regulators in the symphony of FMT, orchestrating the balance between quiescent fibroblasts and activated myofibroblasts. As research advances, these ncRNAs appear to be prospects for innovative therapeutic strategies, offering hope in taming the complexities of fibrosis and restoring tissue equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewu Xing
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott A. Rodeo
- Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, United States
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Liu S, Sun C, Tang H, Peng C, Peng F. Leonurine: a comprehensive review of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1428406. [PMID: 39101131 PMCID: PMC11294146 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1428406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Leonurine is an alkaloid unique to the Leonurus genus, which has many biological activities, such as uterine contraction, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, regulation of cell apoptosis, anti-tumor, angiogenesis, anti-platelet aggregation, and inhibition of vasoconstriction. This paper summarizes the extraction methods, synthetic pathways, biosynthetic mechanisms, pharmacokinetic properties, pharmacological effects in various diseases, toxicology, and clinical trials of leonurine. To facilitate a successful transition into clinical application, intensified efforts are required in several key areas: structural modifications of leonurine to optimize its properties, comprehensive pharmacokinetic assessments to understand its behavior within the body, thorough mechanistic studies to elucidate how it works at the molecular level, rigorous safety evaluations and toxicological investigations to ensure patient wellbeing, and meticulously conducted clinical trials to validate its efficacy and safety profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fu Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Wang M, Yan M, Tan L, Zhao X, Liu G, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Gao H, Qin W. Non-coding RNAs: targets for Chinese herbal medicine in treating myocardial fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1337623. [PMID: 38476331 PMCID: PMC10928947 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1337623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in urban and rural areas. Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological manifestation at the adaptive and repair stage of cardiovascular diseases, easily predisposing to cardiac death. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), RNA molecules with no coding potential, can regulate gene expression in the occurrence and development of myocardial fibrosis. Recent studies have suggested that Chinese herbal medicine can relieve myocardial fibrosis through targeting various ncRNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Thus, ncRNAs are novel drug targets for Chinese herbal medicine. Herein, we summarized the current understanding of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis, and highlighted the contribution of ncRNAs to the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine on myocardial fibrosis. Further, we discussed the future directions regarding the potential applications of ncRNA-based drug screening platform to screen drugs for myocardial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
| | - Maocai Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
| | - Liqiang Tan
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaona Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Guoqing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
| | - Zejin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
| | - Honggang Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Rizhao, Shandong, China
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Meng Y, Xi T, Fan J, Yang Q, Ouyang J, Yang J. The inhibition of FTO attenuates the antifibrotic effect of leonurine in rat cardiac fibroblasts. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 693:149375. [PMID: 38128243 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a common pathological condition in cardiovascular diseases that often causes severe cardiac dysfunction. MF is characterized by changes in cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), levels of collagen (Col) -1, -3, and overdeposition of the extracellular matrix. Our previous research showed that leonurine (LE) effectively inhibits collagen synthesis and differentiation of CFs, but the mechanism is not fully elucidated. Recent evidence indicates that fat mass and obesity-associated proteins (FTO) regulates the occurrence and development of MF. This study aimed to explore the role of FTO in the antifibrotic effects of LE. METHODS Neonatal rat CFs were isolated, and induced using angiotensin II (Ang II) to establish a cell model of MF. Cell viability, wound healing and transwell assays were used to detect cell activity and migration ability. The protein and mRNA levels of MF-related factors were measured following stimulation with Ang II and LE under normal conditions or after FTO knockdown. The RNA methylation level was measured by dot blot assay. RESULTS The results showed that LE (20, 40 μM) was not toxic to normal CFs. LE reduced the proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of Ang II-induced CFs. Further investigation showed that FTO was downregulated by Ang II stimulation, whereas LE reversed this effect. FTO knockdown facilitated the migration of CFs, upregulated the protein levels of Col-3, α-SMA and Col-1 in Ang II and LE-stimulated CFs, and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of α-SMA. Furthermore, LE reduced N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, which was partially blocked by FTO knockdown. FTO knockdown also reduced the expression levels of p53 protein in Ang II and LE-stimulated CFs. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the inhibition of FTO may attenuate the antifibrotic effect of LE in CFs, suggesting that FTO may serve as a key protein for anti-MF of LE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Meng
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Institute of Life Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Tianlan Xi
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Institute of Life Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jun Fan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Qiyu Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Ouyang
- Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Chongqing, China.
| | - Jiadan Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Cao Q, Wang Q, Wu X, Zhang Q, Huang J, Chen Y, You Y, Qiang Y, Huang X, Qin R, Cao G. A literature review: mechanisms of antitumor pharmacological action of leonurine alkaloid. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1272546. [PMID: 37818195 PMCID: PMC10560730 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1272546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Leonurine refers to the desiccated aerial portion of a plant in the Labiatae family. The primary bioactive constituent of Leonurine is an alkaloid, Leonurine alkaloid (Leo), renowned for its substantial therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of gynecological disorders, in addition to its broad-spectrum antineoplastic capabilities. Over recent years, the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of Leo have garnered escalating scholarly interest. Leo exhibits its anticancer potential by means of an array of mechanisms, encompassing the inhibition of neoplastic cell proliferation, induction of both apoptosis and autophagy, and the containment of oncogenic cell invasion and migration. The key signal transduction pathways implicated in these processes include the Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), the Phosphoinositide3-Kinase/Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase (PI3K/AKT), the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), and the Mitogen-Activated Protein/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (MAP/ERK). This paper commences with an exploration of the principal oncogenic cellular behaviors influenced by Leo and the associated signal transduction pathways, thereby scrutinizing the mechanisms of Leo in the antineoplastic sequence of events. The intention is to offer theoretical reinforcement for the elucidation of more profound mechanisms underpinning Leo's anticancer potential and correlating pharmaceutical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Cao
- Department of Earth Sciences, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- School of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xinyan Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Undergraduate Department, Taishan University, Taian, China
| | - Jinghan Huang
- Undergraduate Department, Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuquan Chen
- Institute of Medical Information/Library, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanwei You
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Qiang
- Department of Earth Sciences, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xufeng Huang
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ronggao Qin
- Department of Earth Sciences, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Guangzhu Cao
- Department of Earth Sciences, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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